Leader holder with elastic element

Abstract

A fishing leader storage device having deep, generally opposed pairs of winding slots located on opposite sides of the device to receive the leader; and having an elastic spanning element located within and across the winding slots to provide tension to hold taut the leader which is wound on the device over the spanning element within the winding slots. The winding slots act to both pilot the leader wound on the device, and are deep enough to leave clearance for deflection of the spanning element under the tension exerted by the leader wound on the device. Between adjacent slots are located posts which may accept a loop on the end of the leader. The free end of the leader may be held under one of a plurality of elastic retaining elements extending between opposing pairs of winding slots and running parallel to the winding direction of the leader. The winding plan surfaces of the device may be made convex to improve the holding power of the elastic retaining elements. Additionally, lateral anchor slots extending at an angle with respect to the winding direction may be provided, each containing an elastic anchor element, to provide variable anchor points for the hook which is typically carried by one end of the leader.

I claim: 
     
       1. A leader storage device comprising: a base;   at least one pair of opposite winding slots located on opposite sides of said base, wherein said base includes a pair of posts located on opposite sides of each said winding slot, wherein each said winding slot has a bottom, and wherein said winding slots are adapted to have wound therein and therebetween leader means;   at least one winding plan surface extending between said at least one pair of winding slots; and   an elastic tension band, wherein said elastic tension band is supported by each said pair of posts, wherein said elastic tension band extends across said winding slots and is spaced away from said bottoms of said winding slots to permit said elastic tension band to be deflected downwardly under tension into said winding slots by said leader means, when said leader means is wound under tension over said elastic tension band, to permit said elastic tension band to exert a winding and holding tension on said leader means to keep said wound leader taut.   
     
     
       2. A leader storage device according to claim 1, wherein said base has a plan outline of at least generally a rectangle. 
     
     
       3. A leader storage device according to claim 1, wherein said winding slots comprising said at least one pair of opposite winding slots are offset from each other to provide, for a given width of said base, an increased distance therebetween as compared to when said winding slots comprising said pair of opposite winding slots are not offset from each other. 
     
     
       4. A leader storage device according to claim 3, wherein said base has a plan outline of at least generally a parallelogram which is skewed an amount at least generally equal to said offset. 
     
     
       5. A leader storage device according to claim 1, wherein said elastic tension band also extends across said winding slots below the tops thereof to allow said winding slots to provide both piloting of the winding of said leader means on said leader storage device and freedom for said downward deflection of said elastic tension band. 
     
     
       6. A leader storage device according to claim 1, wherein prior to said leader storage device having said leader means wound on it, said elastic tension band is rectangular in cross section, and has a pair of narrow edges and a pair of wide faces; wherein said elastic tension band is oriented across said winding slots with one of its said wide faces facing away from the bottoms of said winding slots to increase the contact radius between said elastic tension band and said leader means wound on said leader storage device so as to decrease the tendency of said leader means to kink. 
     
     
       7. A leader storage device according to claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a groove in at least one of said posts, wherein said elastic tension band lies in said groove, and wherein said groove provides lateral support and abrasion protection for said elastic tension band. 
     
     
       8. A leader storage device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one elastic retaining element means extending between said at least one pair of opposite winding slots, wherein said elastic retaining element means is adapted to secure an end of said leader means by said end of said leader means being inserted under said elastic retaining element means. 
     
     
       9. A leader storage device according to claim 6, wherein said at least one winding plan surface is convex in shape in a direction parallel to the longitudinal length of said elastic retaining element means. 
     
     
       10. A leader storage device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one hook anchor slot in said at least one winding plan surface, wherein said at least one hook anchor slot extends along a line which intersects at an angle a line extending between said at least one pair of opposite winding slots, wherein said hook anchor slot is adapted to anchor a hook on said leader means. 
     
     
       11. A leader storage device according to claim 10, further comprising a soft hook anchoring insert at least substantially filling said at least one anchor slot, wherein said soft hook anchoring insert is adapted to have a point of a hook on said leader means embedded therein to anchor said hook.